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[The feed is initially dark and grainy, showing not a whole lot of anything, though there is sound. Specifically, the sound of someone taking a few steps, tripping, and falling over with a surprised sound that's not quite dignified.]

Ow...

[As the unfortunate new comer starts to right himself, his hand jostles against the device and closes around it automatically. The camera angle changes as the device is turned over, inspected, and then a very surprised and confused face appears on the feed.

Kaneki is pretty average looking, except for the eye patch. Right now, he's a bit scuffed, dusty, and what little can be seen in the faint light from the screen shows he's in the caves. He fumbles the device for a moment before he manages to hold it steady.]

Er... I think I'm in a hole...somehow. I don't know if there's anyone around or if I have reception at all but if there is someone...

[He offers a smile that's equal parts embarrassed, apologetic, and nervous, rubbing the back of his head with his free hand. Actually, maybe he's more nervous than the other two.]

I could use a hand, if there is.

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[He's not sure what to expect that when she says transform--when ghouls "transform" it's not really a huge difference in appearance, but it is terrifying.

He was not expecting what he gets, but at least she warned him.]

Uh...right. Okay. Sorry about this.

[He gets on her back, a bit hesitant because she was clearly a woman (albeit one with weird ears) just a minute ago, and this just seems wrong somehow. He hangs on like she told him.]

I'm ready.

[Panne tends to overlook the small stuff, which can occasionally be large stuff. Unfortunately, it comes with living a mostly solitary existence. But she is not offended by being grabbed at, especially when she commanded him to do so.]

Hold on tightly.

[With several well-placed leaps, she makes it out of the hole. Just in case the man-spawn cannot see in this darkness, she also takes him out of the cave. Then she crouches back down again, to let him off her back.]

There. You have done well; most balk at first sight of my true form.

[Kaneki slides off of her, a little shaken just because wow he just rode some kind of...something out of a cave.]

Thanks, I guess. [He manages not to sit down where he's standing.] Um, for the help, too. I appreciate it.

[Touka or Yomo probably could have gotten out of the hole without any problem, but Kaneki is pretty sure he would have broken his neck trying.]

You are welcome.

[She cants the air, catching that odd smell again. Panne sniffs and sniffs, and eventually realizes that the smell is coming from Kaneki. She then then begins to sniff him, without any warning or explanation, her long whiplike whiskers tickling him all over.]

[Odd. He smells of... spilled blood, and human flesh. Very intimately so. But he doesn't look like a killer, or even a soldier. She does not feel she should fear him, but respects his personal space, and backs off slightly.]

What is your name, man-spawn?

[Being sniffed by Panne is not much less creepy than being sniffed by another ghoul, though the whiskers are new. He tries briefly to get away from those, though she's pretty insistent. She doesn't seem predatory at all (unlike the ghouls), but he's still relieved when she backs off.]

Oh! Sorry. I'm Kaneki Ken. What about you?

[She nods, and in another flash, returns to her humanoid form. Hope you like body hair, it is literally what is covering up her crotch.]

I am Panne, of the Taguel. I assume you've just arrived?

[Now that Kaneki can get a better look at her, he notices the hair and what it's covering and wow, he looks away very quickly.]

Uh...yeah. Yeah, just a little while ago.

[She even has a perky little bunny tail on her butt, if you're into that.]

The Mansion welcomes the likes of man quite well, it is absolutely crawling with their spawn. I'm sure you will be pleased with the accommodations.

I'm sorry if this is rude, but what are you?

A Taguel, of the Warren. [She's technically repeating herself, but she cuts him some slack, he's probably disoriented.] We are a kind of shapeshifter, as you just saw. That was my true form.

[Uuuuh.....]

Why is it you take this form?

[An insightful question. She does not think she has been asked this before.]

There are some benefits to this form as well. Hands, for one. Man-spawn also respond more favorably when talking to something that looks like they do.

[That does make sense. It is how ghouls manage to survive in the human world...]

That's true. But in my experience, people also react even more badly to something they thought was like them than they do to something that's obviously different.

[Then again, Panne is still pretty obviously different, even in this form.]

Your words ring true, man-spawn. Even though our differences are few, the Taguel were not treated kindly by your ilk. I stand before you as the last of my kind, the rabbit-Taguel.

[She tilts her head at him, almost in a challenging manner.]

And what is it you hide behind that eye-patch, Kaneki, that makes you different? Is it why you reek of dead flesh, despite your kind words and innocent exterior?

[The last of her kind? That's pretty depressing, and he would express his sympathy, but then she asks those questions and he tenses up, just staring at her for a second.]

You...can smell that?

[He hasn't even eaten recently... Does that smell just stick to ghouls?]

I can.

[His heart begins to pound as well. He must be holding quite a secret... She remains quiet, strategically, wondering what he will divulge on his own.]

[Kaneki's mind races, his expression going cold for a second. If he told her the truth, she might understand, considering what she just revealed to him. She also doesn't seem like the type to share what she knows with just anyone.

Then again, she has no guarantee that she isn't in danger from him and he has no guarantee that his impression of her is correct. He had to learn that the hard way before and he'd rather not go through that again.

It's too soon to trust her, even if he wants to. But he woun't lie to her. At least he can do that much.]

It's not anything to be worried about. [He offers a smile, but it's a nervous one.]

Edited (verb tenses why) 2014-08-14 04:00 (UTC)

Worried? Hah, I am not worried. I have sensed darker things in man before.

[She believes that he isn't dangerous, and is confident enough in her own ability to survive that it doesn't matter much to her if she turns out to be wrong.]

Very well then. I am no seeker of truths; I have no reason to deny you your secret. You live how you think is best.

[He visibly relaxes at that.]

Thank you, Panne-san.

Spare me your formalities, man-spawn. I have given you this; be warned that you will feel the full force of my hardest hind-legged kick to your face if my confidence proves false.

You don't like humans much, do you?

They have subjugated my people, slaughtered us for sport, and kept us as pets, all for their perverse pleasure.

No, I do not trust a man with an inch, for he will take a mile.

[Kaneki has learned to relate to what she's describing.]

I'm sorry. That happens where I'm from, too.

[She shakes her head sadly.]

I hope that who-ever is persecuted where you are from fares better than my Warren did.

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